The new Temporary Parent Visa (Subclass 870) commenced 17 April 2019. This new visa offers parents a new pathway to reunite with their children and grandchildren in Australia.

Please note: This is a temporary visa and does not lead to PR.

When the sponsorship is approved, you then must apply for this visa within 6 months of submitting the application.

There could be a wait for this visa as it is capped at 15,000 visas per year.

Temporary Parent Visa Application Charge

  • 3 years $5,735 AUD or 5 years $11,470. Initially you have to make a payment of $1000 and then pay the remaining fees prior to grant.

Sponsorship Application Charge

  • $420 AUD

*Prices correct as of 14 March 2024.

Visa Conditions

  • You cannot work on this visa as there are no work rights. (NO exceptions)
  • It is vital you have health insurance for the duration of your stay.

Where can you apply for this visa

You can apply for this visa from both inside and outside of Australia. However, if you were to apply for this visa within Australia, you must ask for permission on the sponsorship application form. If this is not approved, you must not apply for this visa from within Australia.

Sponsorship

To sponsor their parent for this visa, the sponsor must be an Australian citizen or an eligible permanent resident. Then the first step in the process is for the child to apply and be approved for sponsorship. There is no balance of family test or Assurance of Support requirements with this visa unlike permanent parent visa options.

Requirements to be suitable to sponsor

Those wanting to be a Parent Sponsor must be at least 18 years of age and be the child, or the child’s partner of the visa applicant.

Other requirements include:

  • Being an Australian citizen, or
  • Being an Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia for at least 4 years, and

Pass the income test

It is required you pass the income test. To pass this, your taxable income for the last income year (2018-19 financial year) must be at least equal or greater than $83 454.80.

If you cannot pass the income test yourself, you can alternatively combine your taxable income with your partner and/or another Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand child of the visa applicant. If you do combine income, it is required your taxable income makes at least 50 per cent of the taxable income amount specified to pass the income test.

Have no debt to the Australian government

If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.

Sponsor obligations

Sponsor obligations include agreeing to:

  • providing financial support and accommodation for the visa applicant whilst they are within Australia. This obligation will end if the visa applicant is granted a permanent visa.
  • keep records including evidence of income and present them if requested. These obligations end two years after you stop being a sponsor.
  • notify if things change and if/when certain events occur. This includes if the visa applicant dies or if the sponsor is charged with a crime. This obligation ends the day after you cease to be a sponsor
  • pay back any and all outstanding public health debt incurred by the visa applicant in Australia. This obligation will end when you have paid the debt back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back. The debt must be paid back even if the visa applicant leaves Australia.

Your Sponsor must make their commitment to the obligations when they are completing the sponsorship application.  If you don’t comply with the sponsorship obligations, immigration might cancel your sponsorship and/or your parent’s visa.

Note: the new subclass 870 is only a temporary parent visa and does not lead to permanent residency.


With plenty of experience helping individuals reunite with their loved ones in Australia, Keystone Visa & Migration Services is here for you. For further assistance please contact us at [email protected] or through the contact us page on this website.